The former Capital FM host and ex-Pop Idol judge, known as Dr Fox, had faced a string of indecent assault and sexual assault charges in relation to alleged offences dating back to the 1980s against women and girls as young as 14.

During a four-minute hearing at Westminster magistrates court on Monday, the chief magistrate, Howard Riddle, read out the not guilty verdicts on all charges. He said the victims were believable, but he and the two lay magistrates who tried the case “could not be sure that in the context it was a criminal offence”.